title: A short history on pacemakers.
abstract: Artificial pacemakers have taken part or possibly driven many developments in cardiac science and medicine and are therefore a very important story to remember. This 300-year journey of discovery has been contributed to by experts from across the Globe. The essential foundation of knowledge such as basic electrophysiology and applied electrotherapy was built in the 18th century and is now academically and socially accepted. This line of inventions and research has seen: early use of meta-analyses, the initial coming together of medical or bioengineering and the concept of cardiac monitoring--now a mainstay in the hospital care of a patient. In the 21st century pacemaker developments are no longer solely about reducing mortality but improving morbidity. Design developments reduce: discomfort, additional surgeries and invasive procedures. New energy sources have become lighter, smaller and with a longer life span.
authors.affiliation: Wellcome Library, London. Electronic address: hy9ctw@hyms.ac.uk.
authors.forename: Catherine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Ward
authors.forename: Susannah
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Henderson
authors.forename: Neil H
authors.initials: NH
authors.lastname: Metcalfe
mesh_terms: D004867:Equipment Design / Q000266:history; D006331:Heart Diseases / Q000266:history* / Q000628:therapy; D049671:History, 18th Century; D049672:History, 19th Century; D049673:History, 20th Century; D049674:History, 21st Century; D006801:Humans; D010138:Pacemaker, Artificial / Q000266:history*
keywords: Cardiac; Development; History; Pacemakers; Review